Your expectations for 2011

[Schulzycrow]

Looking at it objectively - how are the Saints 'on the way down' and the Crows 'on the way up'? Objectively I mean. Not with the camry glasses on.

umm 2nd goal at 75 minutes worth of game time in a GF.

 

[Crow-mo]

umm 2nd goal at 75 minutes worth of game time in a GF.

ummm... really?

 

[footy4ever]

Top 8 easily, top 4 probably. With a healthy team - no limits.

I don't think anyone will be "surprised" if it doesn't happen, just disappointed. with the implicit calls for action that this will require.





I hate this double standard. if injuries were really the problem this year, then it is reasonable to expect improvement on 2009 and NOT 2010.


My expectations are in no way focused on any of the details, any of the players etc. all the shit that happens in a year happens, and usually to most clubs. my expectations are purely results based.

I want to contend. we have been serious contenders since 2006. no more finals making up the numbers, I want to see a quality finals campaign that involves a win or two.

heck the only finals match we've actually won, since 2005 was against Freo (yes, the very same) and an Essendon team rated as the worst finals contender of the decade.

its not unreasonable to put that behind us, and start contending, campaigning well and being around the mark. nothing else will be acceptable, no matter the excuse.

Holy crap! I agree with Crow-Mo, - big time.

 

[swanfan]

To win the Grand Final. It should be our expectation every year.

 

[Crow-mo]

Holy crap! I agree with Crow-Mo, - big time.

you should be proud of the progress you're making.

big pat on the back time

 

[Mismatched]

after watching the final series I have no doubt that Geelong, Saints and WB are on the downward curve and I have no doubt that we have much improvement in our list

definitely top 6, top 4 with luck going our way

I'm not sure that the Saints are on a downward curve, I think they'll come very close to a GF again next year, however, I think they're a fair way off a Premiership. As well as they played in GF Mark I in the 2nd half, Collingwood should have had that game in the bag by half time and it was only thanks to the efforts of Goddard and Hayes(maybe Fisher and Gilbert too) that they were able to force a draw. The Saints superstars in Goddard, Hayes and Riewoldt, plus their 6-7 other very good players will ensure that they make the top 4 again IMO (barring a significant injury list), however, the just don't have the quality across the board to seriously challenge a quality team like Collingwood.

I think it'll be an interesting year next year, here are my thoughts:

Geelong: Still around the mark, they have enough good players still playing and I don't think the change in coach will effect them too much for the first year Post-Bomber Thompson, somewhere between about 3rd and 6th.

Collingwood: They're the new "team to beat" now, no doubt about it. IMO very much a case of a champion team always beats a team of champions. A couple of stars running through the midfield, but IMO they're made to look better by being surrounded by other quality players. Have a class A-grade midfield/ruck department with solid, workman like forwards/defenders, who all gel together really well and there's no reliance on 1 or 2 players to get the job done. Top 2.

Saints: Will be up there again, just not sure whether they have the depth in their 22 to go the whole day. When the pressure's on, they rely on too few to get the job done. Top 4.

Bulldogs: Will fall back to the pack IMO, not sure how far, still have a quality midfield and solid defence, but forward line is suspect if Hall doesn't fire. Not sure Grant is their savior long term either, he's the kind of bloke who works well alongside 1-2 other bigger bodied key forwards. If the dogs can't find these then he will become the next Westhoff. To finish 5-10.

Hawthorn: Another side who rely's on their stars to win matches. Defence and Ruck department still extremely suspect. Midfield is absolute class and forward line is the best in the league on its day, but is very inconsistent and let down by a leaky defence. If everything goes right, they could beat anyone and one of those sides you always fear playing. To finish anywhere from 1-10.

Fremantle: The big unknown really, they looked the goods in '06 making a prelim, however being Fremantle, it all went to shit after that and took them till 2010 to make the finals again. Was it just another flash in the pan? Who knows where they'll finish.

Carlton: Rely far too much on Chris Judd, good enough side to make the finals, but no more. To finish 6-10

Sydney: One of those sides who always give 100% and play really tough, hard, contested, team football and almost made a prelim as a result. Probably not enough quality across the ground to seriously contend, but then I would have said that back in 05 where they were the 1 side who had the wood over West Coast. To finish 4-8.

Gold Coast: Will surprise a number of people IMO. Probably won't make the finals and will performances will be very reliant on a good run with injuries, but should have a very solid back 6 and a quality midfield, which at the very least will make them competitive. The big question at this stage is their forward line, as yet haven't recruited a big key forward(Have made a massive play for Travis Cloke apparently), but otherwise will be very young and inexperienced in this department. Will be in the upper part of the bottom 8 IMO.

Should be an interesting year as I think we'll finally see Geelong start to falter and barring perhaps Collingwood, you could probably throw a blanket over 6 sides for who will be the other contender and it may be a case of everything going right for one side, as it did for Hawthorn in '08, to see who steps up.

 

[Mismatched]

I hate this double standard. if injuries were really the problem this year, then it is reasonable to expect improvement on 2009 and NOT 2010.


My expectations are in no way focused on any of the details, any of the players etc. all the shit that happens in a year happens, and usually to most clubs. my expectations are purely results based.

I want to contend. we have been serious contenders since 2006. no more finals making up the numbers, I want to see a quality finals campaign that involves a win or two.

heck the only finals match we've actually won, since 2005 was against Freo (yes, the very same) and an Essendon team rated as the worst finals contender of the decade.

its not unreasonable to put that behind us, and start contending, campaigning well and being around the mark. nothing else will be acceptable, no matter the excuse.

I tend to agree with this. Since Craig has taken over, we have had 6 years to prepare for the departures of McLeod, Goodwin, Edwards and Burton. There is absolutely no doubt that this side is now the team that "Neil Craig made", we can no longer rely on players from another era to pull us through. He's had plenty of time to make his bed, now its time for NC to lie in it.

I'm willing to write off 2010 as just "one of those years" where nothing goes right. We had a very poor preseason injury wise which carried over into the season not so much in terms of personnel on the park. We had close to our best 22 "fit to play" most weeks, however they weren't well prepared, they were unfit and not up to speed with our gameplans. This then reflected in our 0-6 start and we were only saved from a 0-8 start by playing the only side worse than us in Richmond. The first 6-8 weeks were almost a 2nd preseason for us. In the final 16 rounds we managed a win-loss record of 9-7, including some very respectable performances, and 2 wins, against the top 4 sides, most of which in the complete absence of McLeod, Goodwin, Edwards and Burton.

Considering some of the performances thrown up late in 2010 and the promise that was shown by our side in 2009, I think we have every right to expect a top 4 finish, including a quality finals campaign. Quite frankly, if it weren't for our promising finish late 09, I'm not sure Craig would even be here. A bit like Wallace last year, its time for Craig to deliver finals results. If the AFC Board didn't think Craig had developed the list to do this, he wouldn't be here, its time for NC to repay their faith. Anything less than a competitive finals campaign will result in the end of NC's tenure. For 6 years we've been building for the day that Goodwin, McLeod and co finally retired, that day has come, time to see to what we have to show for it.

 

[crowman86]

umm 2nd goal at 75 minutes worth of game time in a GF.

A week earlier they just needed 1 bounce to pop into Milnes hands and they would have won... You wouldn't be able to say they are on the way down

 

[KUNG FU]

I tend to agree with this. Since Craig has taken over, we have had 6 years to prepare for the departures of McLeod, Goodwin, Edwards and Burton. There is absolutely no doubt that this side is now the team that "Neil Craig made", we can no longer rely on players from another era to pull us through. He's had plenty of time to make his bed, now its time for NC to lie in it.

I'm willing to write off 2010 as just "one of those years" where nothing goes right. We had a very poor preseason injury wise which carried over into the season not so much in terms of personnel on the park. We had close to our best 22 "fit to play" most weeks, however they weren't well prepared, they were unfit and not up to speed with our gameplans. This then reflected in our 0-6 start and we were only saved from a 0-8 start by playing the only side worse than us in Richmond. The first 6-8 weeks were almost a 2nd preseason for us. In the final 16 rounds we managed a win-loss record of 9-7, including some very respectable performances, and 2 wins, against the top 4 sides, most of which in the complete absence of McLeod, Goodwin, Edwards and Burton.

Considering some of the performances thrown up late in 2010 and the promise that was shown by our side in 2009, I think we have every right to expect a top 4 finish, including a quality finals campaign. Quite frankly, if it weren't for our promising finish late 09, I'm not sure Craig would even be here. A bit like Wallace last year, its time for Craig to deliver finals results. If the AFC Board didn't think Craig had developed the list to do this, he wouldn't be here, its time for NC to repay their faith. Anything less than a competitive finals campaign will result in the end of NC's tenure. For 6 years we've been building for the day that Goodwin, McLeod and co finally retired, that day has come, time to see to what we have to show for it.

Chalk me up for one of these. Outstanding post.

No finals, no NC. Anything less than top 4 better be gosh darn convincing, in the mould of late 2009.

 

[AFC979810]

Chalk me up for one of these. Outstanding post.

No finals, no NC. Anything less than top 4 better be gosh darn convincing, in the mould of late 2009.

We are a completely different side to that side that played Collingwood in 2009... The influence and experience of the fab four cannot be dismissed that easily.... The loss of c hampions like Goodwin and Mcleod will hurt.

We will be a very young and inexperienced side next year and with our list should be very happy with 6-8 on the ladder. Have a feeling it will be a rollercoaster year and I will be happy as long as we make the finals and dont lose any important players to GWS.